Flask for casting metallic-wheel hubs



Sept. 20. 1927;

F. A. THOMANN FLASK FOR CASTING METALLIC WHEEL HUBS 1 a m m" 2 Sheen-Sheet 1 Uf'flBZT.

Filed Sept.

I I I I AJ sap 19-27 F. A. THOMANN FLASK FOR CASTING METALLIC WHEEL HUBS Filed Sept. 22. 1924 ZSh eets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 20, 1927.

UNITED-STATE PATENT. OFFICE.

FREDERICK A. rerorzrAnn or EAST MOLINE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO DEERE & GOM- PANY, or. MOLINE, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS.

rnasxron onsrine METALLI-WHEEL nuns.

Application filed September 22,1924i Serial No. 788,990.

My invention relates to metallic wheelsand particularly to that type in which the tire cast upon the spokes after the'latter and the tire have been assembled. The object of my invention is the production of a complete wheel with an economy of metal in the hub without a sacrifice of strength and efliciency.

Referring to the drawings in which similar numerals indicate identical'part-s Figure 1 is a side elevation of a flask ready for a casting with the wheel spokes in place therein.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1 and showing part of a wheel tire and spokes connected therewith.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of Figure 1,-the sprue hole and the relative position thereto of part ofmy improvement.

Figure 4 is a section-on the line 14 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a plan View of part of my improvement, and v Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of the position of the spoke ends in the flask before 2 pouring. 1

The flask is preferably cylindrical in outward form and is of a type known in the art; it is composed of parts 1 and 2, the part 1 having a series of fingers 3 which register with similar fingers 4 on the part 2 when the parts are together. Either of the parts, part- 1 in this instance, is provided with a sprue hole 5. The inner conformation of the flask is that of the article to be cast, in this instance the hub of a metallic wheel. Lugs 6 and 7 are diametrically opposite on the part 2 and are preferably integral therewith, similar lugs 8 and 9 are on the part 1. Be-

tween the lugs 6, on the part 2, is. pivotally secured, by a suitable bolt, an arm 10, and a similar arm 11 is secured in the same manner between the lugs 7; the arm 10 is adapted to be inserted between the lugs 8 on the part 1 and is provided with a slot 12. The arm 11 is adapted to be received between the lugs 9 and is provided with a slot 13; wedges are employed in the slots 12 and 13'to hold the parts 1 and 2 firmly together, and it is readily apparent that by removing the wedges W the parts 1 and 2 are easily separated.

Each of the fingers 3 and 4: has a groove 14 in the end thereof which registers with a similar groove15 between the fingers 3 and 1 respectively, these grooves are for reception of the hub ends of the wheel spokes and consequently are radial to the axis of the wheel for which the hub is to be cast, and while the cast isbeing'ma'de the spokes are held rigidly in the grooves and project into the flask the necessary distance to be caught by the flowing metal. The spokes 16 are first riveted to the rim or tire 17, and are staggered and provided respectively with a button 18 on their free ends. The parts 1 and 2 of the flask being separated the spokes 16 are laid in the grooves in the part 2, a sand core 19 is inserted for the axle bearing and the part 1 of the flask is joined to the part 2 and the parts are held together rigidly as.pre-' viously explained. If the cast is made at this time the hub will contain an excess of metal axially between the staggered spokes, more metal than is necessary for the working strain to which the wheel may be subjected, and to save this excess metal, I employ a cast. ring, formed ofparts 20 and 21, which fits within the flask and is inserted therein after the ends of the spokes are placed and before the parts of the flask are assembled.

The sprue hole 5 necessitates the omission of a finger 3 on the part 1, and to hold the spoke, which would, otherwise beheld by a finger, I provide a lug 22, integral with the part 21 of the ring and adapted to contact with adjacent fingers 4 of the part 2, the

lug 22 serving to hold the spoke at that particular point and to prevent a rotary movement of the ring in the flask. Both parts of the ring are cut away at a to provide a gate 23 through which the molten metal passes into the flask. V

WVhen a casting is made, with the ring omitted, the result is a hub of the usual and common form, but by employing the ring there is a material decrease in the amount of metal in the hub, and a circumferential groove is formed in the hub, substantially central of the length thereof, where there would be solid metal if the ring was not employed. The device has proven of great economy in the construction of wheels of this class, without sacrifice of strength andefiiclency.

hat I claim is l. A sectional flask for molding wheel hubs having its interior, conforming to the shape of a hub, spoke holes in said flask, a sectional .ring fitting snugly within the flask, acore extending through said ring and supported in the flask and having a lesser diameter than the inner diameter of the ring, and means to hold said ring in position.

A flask for II'IOlCliH wheel hubs composed of sections adapted to be secured together and having its interior conforming to the shape of a hub, spoke holes in said flask, a two part ring fitting snugly Within the flask, a core extending through said ring and supported in the flask and spaced a part; from the inner surface of the ring, and a lug on one part of said ring engaging with a part of said flask whereby said ring is held from rotary or lateral movement.

3. A flask for molding wheel hubs composed of sections adapted to be secured together and having its interior conforming to the shape of a hub, spoke holes in said flask, a two part ring fitting snugly within the flask, a core extending through said ring and supported in the flask and spaced apart from the inner surface of the ring, a lug on one part of said ring engaging with a part of said flask, and operating, to hold the ring from rotary or lateral movement, a sprue in one part of the flask, and a gate in said ring lfleading from the sprue to the interior of the FREDERICK A. THOMANN. 

